Putting the TOXI-Triage technologies to the test: Athens 2018
The TOXI-Triage project team joined forces with the Greek Ministry of National Defence to run a full scale field trial of its mass casualty diagnostic technologies and systems.
The field trial took place at a Greek Air Force base and was set on the scenario of a nerve agent attack at an airport.
Two chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) decontamination triage lines were set up by the military and 50 casualties, contaminated with a harmless but traceable substance, were sent for assessment.
A whole host of new technologies were put to the test during the trial, including:
- A new system to determine the level of casualty exposure to poisons by analysing the skin, salvia and breath
- The use of drones carrying payloads that contain radiological and poison cloud monitoring instrumentation to assess incident hot zones
- A Tag and Trace system for casualties that provides real-time data on their status and location to aid the management of decontamination activity
- A way to utilise social media to track a crisis situation as it develops, aiding the deployment of the emergency services and tackling the spread of fake news
Speaking after the event Professor Paul Thomas, the TOXI-Triage project lead, said: “The field trial was an incredible achievement. It was the first time ever so many new advanced methods and technologies were combined to tackle a simulated CBRN crisis.
“The data we have been able to collect will be invaluable in ensuring these technologies and systems continue to evolve, and ultimately become the tools used by emergency responders across the world.”
